Formula 1 heads to Mexico, and the first driver to speak on media day was Sergio Perez. The Red Bull driver expressed his excitement on the eve of what he considers the best weekend of the season, at least in terms of the energy the crowd brings at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. The Mexican said he is eager to perform well after his 2023 debacle when he was forced to retire following an incident at the first corner of the GP. In the press conference, Checo shared his view on Red Bull’s situation, emphasizing that despite the challenges, the Formula 1 constructors’ title remains the goal.
Sergio Perez: “Red Bull always competitive in Mexico. We’re aiming for the win”
“The Mexican GP is an impressive event,” said Sergio Perez on the eve of his home race. “Sometimes you forget that when you’re on the other side of the world. It’s crazy that this is the ninth time we’re racing here. For me, it’s by far the best GP of the year; it’s been a great event since the first year.” After expressing his enthusiasm for his home race, Perez reflected on Red Bull’s performance level in Texas. “Austin wasn’t a great weekend for us. We were missing some updates,” he said, referring to the fact that he did not have the updated floor that Max Verstappen used. “We thought the new floor wasn’t as good as it turned out to be with Max. It wasn’t a weekend that gave me much confidence, but it will be a different story here.” The driver, who will be racing in front of his home crowd, also expressed optimism regarding Red Bull’s track record in Mexico City, where they’ve always performed well. “This weekend we will bring some changes. We’ve always been competitive here and had good races. We’ve always fought for the win and the podium, and we hope to be at that level again this year.” Sergio Perez’s desire for redemption is amplified by the fact that his race in 2023 ended at turn 1. “Looking back, I should have lifted my foot, but when you’re a driver, you want to win. This weekend, I will give it my all, and that’s still my main goal.” – the Red Bull driver pointed out.
Sergio Perez: “Ferrari close? It doesn’t make a difference; the title remains Red Bull’s goal”
A win for Red Bull would mean an important boost in the constructors’ championship. A title whose lead had already slipped away before the autumn break in favor of McLaren, and now the Milton Keynes team is also being targeted by Ferrari, only eight points behind. However, the weekend in the United States, with Max Verstappen’s performance, showed that Red Bull still has a chance to be in the running. Regarding the gap with their direct competitors, Sergio Perez said:
“The numbers remain an issue for the engineers. Having Ferrari close doesn’t change anything; we want to win the constructors’ championship. Finishing second or third makes no difference. To win, you need to have both cars with the best possible package.” In the press conference, Sergio Perez also highlighted the importance of having an excellent home race after a season in the shadows in terms of performance. “I know I’ve had a terrible season,” said the Guadalajara driver. “So, if I can get a good result, I can turn my season around. I think momentum is important in F1, but at the same time, I know how this sport works, and it’s all about your last race. If I get a good result, my season can take a U-turn.” This will not be an easy task for the Mexican driver, considering not only his personal struggles but also the difficulties with the RB20, which has given both the engineers and drivers a hard time since mid-season. “We’re not able to extract the car’s full potential; we’re trying different things,” – the Mexican driver concluded ahead of the Mexico City Grand Prix weekend.
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